Chile's Customs Bureau announced on Monday the largest drug seizure in the country's history, uncovering approximately 100 tons of illegal drugs hidden inside lumber shipments at the ports of Arica, San Antonio, and Valparaiso. The total weight of the impregnated wood was 1,080.8 tons.

The drugs, mostly cocaine and ketamine, were destined for Europe, according to the AFP news agency. The retail value of the shipment on the European market is estimated at $8.3 billion (€7.19 billion), the customs bureau said.

Security Minister Martin Arrau stated that the seizure demonstrates the "magnitude and sophistication" of organized crime facing Chile. The joint operation by the prosecutor's office, maritime police, and customs followed a six-month investigation that identified 45 containers containing tainted lumber.

Customs officials noted that between 10% and 20% of each wood shipment consisted of illicit substances. If the cargo had reached its intended destinations, the drugs would have required "advanced chemical processes" in specialized labs to be extracted.

This historic bust underscores the growing challenge of drug trafficking through Chilean ports, with criminal networks increasingly using sophisticated concealment methods to ship narcotics to European markets.

Source: www.dw.com